Flowers:

Fruit:

Roots:

Stringy

Fleshy buds

Eel grass, tapegrass, or wild celery are all common names for Vallisneria.

Where Does it Grow?

Eel grass can be found in lakes and beds of flowing streams.

Pros and Cons of Eel grass

Eel grass seeds, roots and leaves are consumed by ducks and other waterfowl; while its dense underwater structures provides an excellent habitats for invertebrates and fish. Submerged portions of all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used as food by fish and other wildlife species (e.g. amphibians, reptiles, ducks, etc.). After aquatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria and fungi provides food (called “detritus”) for many aquatic invertebrates.